Lap Steel Construction Questions

Arthur Herrmann · Post by **Arthur Herrmann** » 16 Dec 2006 10:41 am

Having a guitar maker build me a lap steel. He's very open to my input on design features. What's a good spacing between strings? I currently have a Lazy River Weissenthingy which I find very comfortable to play. Also, he usually makes resonator instruments and uses a wooden saddle. I know there is some debate on whether a harder material is advisable, metal or bone. Any input from the forumites on what I should request for a saddle, or some thoughts on what each substance does to effect the tone?

Ron Victoria · Post by **Ron Victoria** » 16 Dec 2006 11:16 am

I am building my first and will space them to hit the center of the pickup poles.

Ron

Marty Smith · Post by **Marty Smith** » 16 Dec 2006 12:47 pm

I use aluminum on everything,it seems to have the nicest tone,sustain, and stays in tune the best. 5/16 to 3/8th string spacing, I can play faster with closer spacing.

Marty

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 16 Dec 2006 12:57 pm

Ditton on what Ron said. Much will depend on the p'ups you choose, their pole-spacing, placement on the guitar and over all scale. Get all your parts together and lay it out beforehand to avoid unpleasant surprises.

I've used metal and bone saddles and nuts. You can try wood too, I am currently using an ebony saddle on a Tele set up for bottleneck.

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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 16 Dec 2006 2:01 pm

I've made nut and bridge parts from aluminum, brass (had those chromed), stainless steel, Corian, and bakelite. Never used bone, but it must as hard as aluminum, maybe harder.

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 16 Dec 2006 2:43 pm

Are you guys using a special type of aluminum or jsut what you can get at Home Dept?

Michael Aspinwall · Post by **Michael Aspinwall** » 16 Dec 2006 3:19 pm

I've been using a very simple arrangement of a 1/4" stainless steel rod supported by blocks made of 3/8" aluminum. Got the stock on Ebay. Same design for bridge and nut; nut is slotted but bridge is not. Here's a pic--

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 16 Dec 2006 3:57 pm

Michael that's pretty slick lookin'. Got any more pics of it?

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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.

Stephan Miller · Post by **Stephan Miller** » 16 Dec 2006 8:56 pm

A straight 3/8" string spacing works best for me. The wider spacing at the nut helps with slanting on the lower frets.

Steve

Michael Aspinwall · Post by **Michael Aspinwall** » 17 Dec 2006 10:51 am

Mike D--That instrument is currently owned by a player in Sacramento. Here's a shot of a similar one that I still own & play (it's been on this board a time or two already):

Ron Victoria · Post by **Ron Victoria** » 17 Dec 2006 11:02 am

What's the deal with the parts to the right of the bridge?

Ron

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 17 Dec 2006 11:11 am

Are you guys using a special type of aluminum or jsut what you can get at Home Dept?

To my ears, 6061 T6 aluminum sounds the best. The 6063, that most extrusions are made from is very soft.

The string spacing that I favor is the "standard" pedal steel spacing of .343.

If you have access to the more exotic metals, titanium 6-4, Inconel 718 and the Hastelloy alloys are pretty interesting.

Michael Aspinwall · Post by **Michael Aspinwall** » 17 Dec 2006 12:56 pm

Ron V--Those are benders for the 2nd & 3rd strings. My own design. Here's a tighter shot:

[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 17 December 2006 at 04:08 PM.]

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 17 Dec 2006 9:29 pm

Yeah I recognize it now.
Love the benders.

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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.

Gerald Cook · Post by **Gerald Cook** » 20 Dec 2006 3:24 pm

I thought that was so he could send a telegraph to the drummer to "pick-it-up"

Michael Aspinwall · Post by **Michael Aspinwall** » 20 Dec 2006 5:29 pm

In the kind of bands I play in, it'd be more like an S.O.S.!

Gary Stevenson · Post by **Gary Stevenson** » 20 Dec 2006 6:18 pm

That sure is a nice looking steel. have you ever made any of those benders for other Steel builders? Does the bender work something like a vibrato arm?

Michael Aspinwall · Post by **Michael Aspinwall** » 21 Dec 2006 7:04 pm

Thanks Gary--Had inquiries, but never sold the "stretcher" unit ala carte; just complete instruments. It's a very labor-intensive component to put together 'cause as you can see, there's a lot of cutting, drilling, & tapping involved. Two bills wouldn't be out of line for the time it takes.
Vaguely like a vibrato unit, at least in theory; I got the idea years ago when I was using a Hipshot B & G bender on my guitar & playing in a country band. The one in the closeup is my fourth; the design has gone through a number of changes & the jury's still out as far as anything else I can do to make it better. I will say though that I recently fell in with a rockabilly band where I play mostly lead guitar and we recorded a couple of tracks where I used the steel--I ain't braggin' on myself 'cause I don't do that, but the playback was knockout!
Thanks for your interest.